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Journal ArticleDOI

Gender differences in instep soccer kicking biomechanics, investigated through a 3D human motion tracker system.

TL;DR: The need to develop a gender-differentiated training model, in order to customize the kicking technique in women and to reduce the likelihood, currently higher than for men, of kicking related injuries is highlighted.
Abstract: BACKGROUND This study aims at describing and comparing each other male and female soccer players kicking instep a stationary ball. The different measures we collected by the 3D motion capture system Movit G1 and the High-Speed Camera (240 fps) were considered as dependent variables, whereas the gender was considered as the independent one. METHODS Twenty soccer well trained non-professional players: 10 men (age: 25.3±6.5 yrs; height 1.80±0.07 m; body mass 76.9±13.2 kg) and 10 women (age: 19±3.34 yrs; height 1.64±0.07 m; body mass 58.2±7.2 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. RESULTS Gender differences were found, with a statistical significance (P 0.5). The most relevant ones were the differences in hip extension of the kicking leg when the foot of the supporting one touches the ground, just before the impact on the ball (independent sample t-Test; P=0.03; Cohen d=1.64) and the speed of the ball, reached immediately after kicking (P<0.001;d=1.23). CONCLUSIONS These results, together with the greater pelvic acceleration shown by men compared to women, highlight the need to develop a gender-differentiated training model, in order to customize the kicking technique in women and to reduce the likelihood, currently higher than for men, of kicking related injuries.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Shasha Ni1, Dawei Yao1
TL;DR: In this article, a method of sports dance movement recognition for human movement monitoring and sensing, including sports dance motion classification algorithm and sports dance preprocessing algorithm, was proposed, which can be used to conduct research experiments on sports dance movements recognition, and the experimental results of this method show that the average recognition accuracy of the sports dance action recognition system for human motion monitor and sensing is 92%.
Abstract: Because of its high research value, action recognition has become a very popular research direction in recent years. However, the research on the combination of motion recognition technology and dance movements is still in its infancy. At the same time, due to the high complexity of dance movements and the problems of human body self-occlusion when performing dances, research on dance video action recognition has been caused. Progress is relatively slow. This article mainly introduces the research of sports dance action recognition system oriented to human motion monitoring and sensing, fully considers the abovementioned problems, and makes in-depth research and analysis on the current excellent action recognition research content in this field. This paper proposes a research method of sports dance movement recognition for human movement monitoring and sensing, including sports dance movement classification algorithm and sports dance movement preprocessing algorithm, which is used to conduct research experiments on sports dance movement recognition for human movement monitoring and sensing. The experimental results of this article show that the average recognition accuracy of the sports dance action recognition system for human motion monitoring and sensing is 92%, which can be used in daily sports dance training and competition.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used principal component analysis (PCA) of waveforms to extract movement patterns from hip and knee angle time-series data; and determined if the extracted movement patterns were predictors of ball velocity during a soccer kick.
Abstract: ABSTRACT This study used principal component analysis (PCA) of waveforms to extract movement patterns from hip and knee angle time-series data; and determined if the extracted movement patterns were predictors of ball velocity during a soccer kick. Twenty-three female and nineteen male professional soccer players performed maximal effort instep kicks while motion capture and post-impact ball velocities data were recorded. Three-dimensional hip and knee joint angle time-series data were calculated from the beginning of the kicking leg’s backswing phase until the end of the follow-through phase and entered into separate PCAs for females and males. Three principal components (PC) (i.e., movement patterns) were extracted and PC scores were calculated. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to establish correlations between hip and knee PC scores and kicking velocity. Results showed better kicking performance in male players was associated with a greater difference between the hip extension at the end of the backswing/beginning of the leg cocking phases and hip flexion at the end of the follow-through phase (r = −0.519, p = 0.023) and a delayed internal rotation of the hip (r = 0.475, p = 0.040). No significant correlations between ball velocity and hip and knee kinematics were found for female players.
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A set ofreal-time data monitoring system for athletes' real-time monitoring behavior under actual sports conditions, which is used to obtain residents' sports data and establishes the statistical identification of features to predict the kinematic parameters and uses the fuzzy identification method to model the human behavioral characteristics.
Abstract: This article first introduces the working principle and research progress of motion sensors and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of motion tracking sensors to provide a reference for in-depth research on motion sensing technology. By combining the fuzzy judgment method to identify the kinematic parameters, this paper establishes the statistical identification of features to predict the kinematic parameters and uses the fuzzy identification method to model the human behavioral characteristics. At the same time, the article designs a set of real-time data monitoring system for athletes' real-time monitoring behavior under actual sports conditions, which is used to obtain residents' sports data. Then, based on such requirements, the overall system architecture was designed to integrate the data acquisition module, data storage and processing module, and real-time data presentation module. The motion monitor can initiate a real-time monitoring request for a specific system group, the server can monitor individual groups to add real-time individual motion status, and the system will issue an alert if the system monitors a potentially dangerous situation.
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the differences in soccer instep kicking dynamics between sex groups were investigated, showing that female players exhibited significantly smaller knee joint moment in the latter part (80-86%) of kicking.
Abstract: ABSTRACT We aimed to clarify the differences in soccer instep kicking dynamics between sex groups. The instep kicking of seven female (height: 160.3 ± 6.1 cm; mass: 54.3 ± 5.2 kg) and seven male (height: 173.0 ± 5.9 cm; mass: 70.0 ± 9.0 kg) players were recorded by a motion capture system (500 Hz). Joint moments of the kicking leg were computed and normalized by the body mass and height. Statistical parametric mapping was used to compare the entire kicking motion between the two groups. Significantly slower resultant ball velocity seen in female players was most likely explained by their significantly slower run-up velocity, shorter leg length and lower foot–ball velocity ratio. Female players exhibited significantly smaller knee joint moment in the latter part (80–86%) of kicking. Also, significantly smaller positive work done by knee extension moment and the ratio of work (knee extension/hip flexion) were found in female players. These results suggested that the suppressed knee extension moment action was identified as a key kinetic characteristic in the instep kicking of female players, and to compensate for this action, they more rely on the work due to hip flexion moment to execute the instep kicking.
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the effects of the ball approach angle and the foot used on the whole-body kinematics of soccer players performing an instep kick were analyzed for maximal instep kicks, using the dominant and non-dominant feet.
Abstract: Past investigations provided limited information regarding instep kicking kinematics in soccer. It is unclear how foot dominance and ball approach angle impact whole-body kinematics and consequently the ball velocity. We aimed to analyse the effects of the ball approach angle and the foot used on the whole-body kinematics of soccer players performing an instep kick. Twenty-four soccer players performed maximal instep kicks, using the dominant and non-dominant feet, with the ball stationary or rolling from four different directions. Whole-body motion was recorded during the kicking action and kinematic time-series were extracted and resampled to 200 points equally divided into kicking and follow-through phases. 1-D statistical parametric mapping two-way ANOVA tested for the effect of ball condition and foot dominance. Ball approach angle affected most of the swinging and support limb variables and some upper body variables. Performance-related variables such as CoM, foot, and shank velocities were reduced when the ball approached posteriorly. The linear and angular velocities of the swinging limb, and CoM vertical position, were higher when kicking with dominant foot. Based on these findings, as a practical implication, coaches should vary ball approach angles and the foot used during kicking drills to improve technical effectiveness in various situations.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Ajmol Ali1
TL;DR: There have been attempts to measure cognitive, perceptual and motor skills for talent identification (or development) purposes and skill acquisition and intervention research; the aim of this review is to examine the strengths and limitations of these tests.
Abstract: The ability to execute skilled movement patterns efficiently and effectively is the most important aspect of soccer performance and players must apply cognitive, perceptual and motor skills to rapidly changing situations. There have been attempts to measure these parameters for talent identification (or development) purposes and skill acquisition and intervention research; the aim of this review is to examine the strengths and limitations of these tests. High levels of perceptual and cognitive skill are characteristics of those players who are able look in the right places for information and process this information efficiently before deciding on a suitable course of action. The motor skills required to successfully control, pass, dribble and shoot the ball at goal are fundamental skills of the soccer player and a variety of methods have been used to measure these aspects. The tests mentioned in this review vary in their complexity and the type of skill(s) they purport to measure. The assessment of choice must come down to a number of factors including cost, available time and space, number of athletes in the cohort and experience of researchers. Furthermore, consideration must be given to the aim(s) of the research/assessment and issues relating to validity and reliability.

246 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The focus of this review is biomechanical in nature and builds on and extends previous reviews and overviews and attempts to provide direction for future research.
Abstract: Kicking is the defining action of soccer, so it is appropriate to review the scientific work that provides a basis of our understanding of this skill. The focus of this review is biomechanical in nature and builds on and extends previous reviews and overviews. While much is known about the biomechanics of the kicking leg, there are several other aspects of the kick that have been the subject of recent exploration. Researchers have widened their interest to consider the kick beginning from the way a player approaches the ball to the end of ball flight, the point that determines the success of the kick. This interest has encapsulated characteristics of overall technique and the influences of the upper body, support leg and pelvis on the kicking action, foot–ball impact and the influences of footwear and soccer balls, ball launch characteristics and corresponding flight of the ball. This review evaluates these and attempts to provide direction for future research.

245 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Large gender differences exist for match performance characteristics of players competing at the highest competitive standard of European soccer, and detailed analyses could be useful for gender-specific training information for optimal preparation.

159 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: It is concluded that females do not instep kick the ball as fast as males, but there are exceptions, as the data demonstrates.
Abstract: The rapid rise in female participation in soccer worldwide has not been followed by a corresponding increase in the number of studies biomechanically that target female kicking patterns to determine if differences exist between males and females. The objectives of this study were to examine kinematic instep kicking differences between elite female and male soccer players in dominant and nondominant limbs. Eight elite soccer players, six females and two males, volunteered as subjects in the study. Subjects took a two-step angled approach of 45-60 degrees to a stationary soccer ball positioned between two force platforms and kicked the ball with the instep portion of the foot as hard as possible into netting which was draped from the ceiling. Ball velocity was the dependent variable. We evaluated six additional variables that have previously been shown to be important predictors of instep kicking ball speed. The males generally kicked the ball faster than the females and displayed greater kinematic variables, including maximum toe velocity, ball contact ball velocity, mean toe velocity, mean toe acceleration, and ankle velocity at ball contact, all of which contributed to faster ball speed. There was one exception. One of the elite females kicked faster than the two elite males and demonstrated higher or similar kinematic patterns when compared with the males. Our conclusions were that females do not instep kick the ball as fast as males, but there are exceptions, as our data demonstrates.

141 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: As the status of women becomes closer to that of men within a country, the difference in home advantage is less between the men's and women's football leagues.
Abstract: Most research into home advantage is based on men's sports. This article analyses home advantage in the women's domestic football leagues of Europe and makes a comparison with the corresponding men's football leagues. A total of 47,042 games were included. From 2004 to 2010, home advantage existed in the domestic women's soccer leagues of all 26 European countries analysed, ranging from 51.0% to 58.8% and averaging 54.2%. In every country, this was less than the corresponding men's home advantage which averaged 60.0%. Crowd effects, both on players and referees, and different gender perceptions of territorial protection are plausible reasons for the differences found. Using a regression model that controlled for the competitive balance of each league, as well as for crowd size, the Gender Gap Index, which quantifies the status of women in each country, was a significant predictor of the difference between men's and women's home advantage. As the status of women becomes closer to that of men within a country, the difference in home advantage is less between the men's and women's football leagues.

80 citations